Door lock assembly with free floating paddle

Abstract

A door lock assembly is provided for use on multiple types of door latches. The assembly includes a housing, a paddle pivotally mounted on the housing, and a pivot plate pivotally mounted on the housing and operatively connected to the door latch. An actuator is mounted on the housing and is operatively connected to the paddle. A pin is slideably received within a slot in the pivot plate and moved between first and second positions in response to locking and unlocking of a locked cylinder. The actuator engages the pin in the first position so as to actuate the pivot plate and thereby open the door latch when the paddle is pulled. The actuator disengages the pin in the second position so that the paddle free floats when pulled and precludes the pivot plate from opening the door latch when the locked cylinder is locked or the power actuator is actuated.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A door lock assembly, comprising: 
       a housing;  
       a paddle pivoting mounted on the housing for movement between a normally closed position and an open position;  
       a slide actuator mounted on the housing and being operatively connected to the paddle for movement between first and second positions;  
       a pivot plate pivotally mounted on the housing and being operatively connected to a door latch;  
       a lock actuator operatively connected to the pivot plate, the lock actuator being movable between unlocked and locked positions;  
       the slide actuator operatively engaging the pivot plate when the lock actuator is in the unlocked position whereby movement of the paddle to the open position slides the slide actuator to the second position and pivots the pivot plate to release the door latch; and  
       the slide actuator disengaging the pivot plate when the lock actuator is in the locked position whereby movement of the paddle to the open position slides the slide actuator to the second position without pivoting the pivot plate such that the door latch is not opened.  
     
     
       2. The door lock assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a spring acting on the slide actuator to normally urge the slide actuator to the first position and to normally urge the paddle to the closed position. 
     
     
       3. The door lock assembly of  claim 2  wherein the spring is a compression spring. 
     
     
       4. The door lock assembly of  claim 2  wherein the slide actuator includes a channel for capturing the spring. 
     
     
       5. The door lock assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a lock cam connected to the lock actuator and being operatively connected to the pivot plate. 
     
     
       6. The door lock assembly of  claim 5  further comprising a link arm extending between the lock cam and the pivot plate. 
     
     
       7. The door lock assembly of  claim 6  wherein the link arm has a first end connected to the lock cam and a second end connected to the pivot plate. 
     
     
       8. The door lock assembly of  claim 7  wherein the first end of the link arm extends through a slot in the lock cam and is turned 90° to retain the first end in the lock cam. 
     
     
       9. The door lock assembly of  claim 7  wherein the second end of the link arm is connected to the pivot plate by a pin. 
     
     
       10. The door lock assembly of  claim 9  wherein the pivot plate includes a slot through which the pin extends whereby the pin moves along the slot when the lock cam is pivoted in response to movement of the lock actuator between the locked and unlocked positions. 
     
     
       11. The door lock assembly of  claim 9  wherein the slide actuator engages and disengages the pin when the lock actuator is unlocked and locked, respectively. 
     
     
       12. The door lock assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an arm is connected to the paddle and engaging the slide actuator to move the slide actuator to the second position when the paddle is moved to the open position. 
     
     
       13. The door lock assembly of  claim 1  wherein the paddle free floats when the lock actuator is in the locked position. 
     
     
       14. The door lock assembly of  claim 1  wherein the lock actuator is a mechanical actuator. 
     
     
       15. The door lock assembly of  claim 1  wherein the lock actuator is a power actuator. 
     
     
       16. A door lock assembly for use with a door latch, comprising: 
       a housing having opposite front and rear sides;  
       a paddle pivotally mounted on the front side of the housing for movement between open and closed positions;  
       a lock actuator moveable between unlocked and locked positions;  
       a lock cam connected to the lock actuator for movement between locked and unlocked positions;  
       a link arm having first and second ends, with the first end connected to the lock cam;  
       a pivot plate pivotally mounted on the housing and being connected to the second end of the link arm;  
       a slide actuator slidably mounted on the housing and being operatively connected to the paddle, the slide actuator being operatively engageable with the pivot plate when the lock actuator is in the unlocked position whereby upon pivoting the paddle to the open position the slide actuator will move the pivot plate to release the door latch, and the slide actuator disengaging the pivot plate when the lock actuator is in the locked position whereby upon pivoting the paddle to the open position the slide actuator does not move the pivot plate and thereby precludes release of the latch.  
     
     
       17. The door latch assembly of  claim 16  further comprising an arm connected to the paddle and engaging the slide actuator to move the latch actuator to an operative position upon moving the paddle to the open position. 
     
     
       18. The door lock assembly of  claim 16  further comprising a spring to normally urge the paddle to the closed position. 
     
     
       19. The door lock assembly of  claim 16  wherein the link arm has a first end received in a slot in the lock cam and the link arm being rotated 90° to retain the first end in the lock cam slot. 
     
     
       20. The door lock assembly of  claim 16  wherein the link arm has a second end connected to the pivot plate by a pin, the slide actuator engaging the pin when the lock actuator is in the unlocked position, and the slide actuator disengaging the pin when the lock actuator is in the locked position. 
     
     
       21. The door lock assembly of  claim 20  wherein the pivot plate includes a slot for receiving the pin, the pin sliding in the slot between a first position engaging the slide actuator and a second position disengaging the slide actuator. 
     
     
       22. The door lock assembly of  claim 16  wherein the slide actuator is plastic. 
     
     
       23. The door lock assembly of  claim 16  wherein the lock actuator is a mechanical actuator operated with a key. 
     
     
       24. The door lock assembly of  claim 16  wherein the lock actuator is a power actuator that is powered electrically. 
     
     
       25. A door lock assembly comprising: 
       a housing;  
       a paddle pivotally mounted on the housing;  
       a pivot plate pivotally mounted on the housing and being operatively connected to a door latch, the pivot plate having a slot therein;  
       an actuator mounted on the housing and being operatively connected to the paddle;  
       a pin slidably received in the pivot plate slot and being movable between first and second positions within the slot;  
       the actuator engaging the pin in the first position so as to actuate the pivot plate to open the door latch when the paddle is pulled; and  
       the actuator disengaging the pin in the second position so that the paddle free floats when pulled and preclude the pivot plate from opening the door latch.  
     
     
       26. The door lock assembly of  claim 25  further comprising a lock actuator operatively connected to the pin, the lock actuator being movable between unlocked and locked positions and sliding the pin within the pivot plate slot between the first and second positions. 
     
     
       27. The door lock assembly of  claim 25  further comprising a link arm having a first end operatively connected to the lock actuator and a second end connected to the pin. 
     
     
       28. The door lock assembly of  claim 26  wherein the lock actuator is mechanically operated. 
     
     
       29. The door lock assembly of  claim 26  wherein the lock actuator is operated by a remote power source. 
     
     
       30. The door lock assembly of  claim 25  further comprising a spring to normally urge the paddle to a closed position. 
     
     
       31. The door lock assembly of  claim 25  wherein the actuator slides between first and second positions in response to movement of the paddle between closed and open positions.